Rock and roll amusement device



o. c. LYTLE 2,923,545

ROCK AND ROLL AMUSEMENT DEVICE Feb. 2, 1960 Filed Dec. 31, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR ORV/LLE c. LVTLE ATTORNEYS Feb. 2, 1960 o. c. LYTLE ROCK AND ROLL AMUSEMENT DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 51, 1958 INVENTOR ORV/LLE C. LYTLE t} ited States Patent 2,923,545 ROCK AND ROLL AMUSEMENT DEVICE Orville C. Lytle, Kittanning, Pa. Application December 31, 1958, Serial No. 784,234 Claims. (Cl. 2721) This invention relates to amusement devices and more particularly to a device of this nature in which an occupant may rock back and forth or by proper manipulation, roll entirely over in the nature of a wheel. The device of this invention when utilized to roll completely over operates somewhat in the nature of a unicycle except that in the latter apparatus means is provided for retaining the occupant substantially in a horizontal plane, whereas in the instant invention, the occupant also rolls over with the device.

Amusement devices of this general nature have heretofore been proposed and utilized but these devices did not provide adjustable seat features for accommodating occupants of different sizes and furthermore, did not include safety means for retaining the occupant in the seat. Furthermore, these prior art devices did not provide means for stopping the device, either from rolling completely over or for stopping the device after a series of revolutions had been completed. Consequently, these prior art devices were often the cause of accidents and injury to the occupant since once the roll over motion had been started, it was extremely difficult for the occupant to stop the same and if this motion took place on an.incline, stopping thereof was substantially impossible until the bottom of the incline had been reached or some obstruction encountered.

It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide a rock and roll amusement device incorporating safety features which substantially eliminate danger of injury to the occupant.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a 7 rock and roll amusement device which may be conveniently utilized for rocking movement or which may be manipulated to roll completely over one or more times at the will of the occupant.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a rock and roll amusement device substantially in the form of a hoop and provided with means for seating an occupant within the hoop and in which means is also provided to retain the occupant in seated position during movement of the device.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a rock and roll amusement device including a seat incorporated within a hoop and in which the seat is adjustable to accommodate occupants of different sizes.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a rock and roll amusement device in the form of a hoop having a seat for an occupant incorporated therein and in which means is provided operable at will by the poem pant to limit movement of the device and prevent a complete rotation thereof or which may be operated after a series of rotations in order to stop movement of the device.

A still'further object of the invention is the provision of a rock and roll amusement device which may be conveniently and economically manufactured from readily available materials and which will provide such a device ice which is sturdy yet relatively light in construction and which is suitable for use by persons of tender years.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description taken in con-- junction with the accompanying drawing wherein:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a rock and roll amusement device constructed in accordance with this' invention; 7 Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 22 of Fig. 1; s Fig. 3 a sectional view taken substantially on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 a front elevational view of the device shown in Fig. 1; and

Fig. 5 a side elevational view of the device shown in- Fig. 1 and showing the operation of the stop means for limiting movement of the device.

With continued reference to the drawing, there is shown a rock and roll amusement device constructed in accordance with this invention and which may well comprise a pair of hoops 10 and 11 secured together in spaced parallel relation by a plurality of cross members 12. The

hoops 10 and 11 as well as the cross members 12 may be formed of tubular material or may, if desired, be formed of solid material and such material may be metallic, plastic, or any other material suitable for this purpose which will provide suflicient strength and at the same time, be sufficiently light in weight to provide a device easily operable by persons of tender years.

Mounted within the hoops 10 and 11 are seat supporting bars 13 and 14 disposed in spaced parallel relation and in the same plane and it is to be noted as shown in'Fig. 1 that the seat supporting bars 13 and 14 are secured to the.hoops 10 and 11 in oifset relationto the center of the hoops. Tubular members 15 and 16 are slidably received on the bars 13 and 14 and a seat 17 having a backrest 18 is mounted on the tubular members 15 and 16. At least one of the tubular members 13 and 14 is provided with a series of longitudinally spaced apertures 19 in which may be selectively received a removable pin 20 extending through an aperture 21 in the tubular member 15 or 16 and the pin 20 serves to retain the tubular members 15 and 16 and the seat and backrest 17 and 18 carried thereby in adjusted position on the bars 13 and 14.

A tubular cross member 22'may be secured to the meinwardly from the safety bar 25 on each side of the backrest 18 and the retaining arms 26 and 27 terminate in inturned ends 28 and 29 disposed rearwardly of the backrest 18. A vertically disposed rearwardly extending taper plate 30 is secured on the rear side of the backrest 18 at each end thereof and the'plates 30 are provided with spaced notches 31 in the rearedges thereof for receiving the inturned ends 28 and 2 9 of the retaining arms 26 and 27. It will thus be seen that by positioning the inturned ends 28 and 29in an appropriate pair of notches 31 that the position of the safety bar 25 may be adjusted to securely retain a person 32 on the seat 17 and against the backrest 18. p

In order to prevent inadvertent disengagement of the inturned ends 28 and 29 from the notches 31 and to facilitate engagement of such inturned ends therewith, there may be provided a tension spring 33 having one end 34 connected to an eye 35 on the arm 24 and with the Spaced parallel posts 38 and39 may be secured to.

the forward ends of the'seatsupporting bars 13 and 14 and extend upwardly and be secured at: their upper; ends to the hoops lfliand 11 as clearly'shown in'Fig. 1. A hand engaging bar '40 may be'secllred between the vertical posts 38 and 39 iin aposition convenient to the occupant SZofthe deVice.

Stop'mea'ns foripreventing roll over of'the device may be provided in theform of an arcuate stop bar it having a sleeve 42 at one end thereof pivotally received on a cross member-43xextending between the hoops It) and 11 above'the occupant in the seat 17.: r The arcuate ban 4 1 may 'be ofsubstantia-lly the: same curvature as 'the hoops 10 and 11 and as shown in Fig. l' with'the stop b'ar- 4'1: in in'operative position :the' same is positioned within the periphery of the hoops 10 and 11 and does not in any' way impede rolling. movement of the hoops. Thestop bar 41-rna'y be retained in inoperative position as shown in Fig. 1 by a tension spring 44 having one end 45 *secured to the stop bar 41 and the opposite end 46 secured tonne of the cross members 12 extending between the hoops -10 andll. Inward movement of the stop bar 41 beyond the position ShWl1'..l 11i=Fl g.' l is prevented by engagement of the forward end;,4-1 of the stop bar with one of the cross members -12 extending between the hoopsltlxand 11. Also secured to the stop-bar 41 adjacent the forward end 47' thereof is a handle member 48 which extends downwardly from the "in said notches to hold said safety bar in engagement with a person on said seat, a tension spring connecting one of said first mentioned arms and the adjacent retaining arm, spaced parallel posts extending upwardly from the forward portions of said seat supporting bars and a hand engaging bar secured between said posts in a position convenient to a person on said seat, whereby a person on said seat may rock said device or cause the 1 same to roll over and stop means for preventing roll over of said device comprising an arcuatestop bar pivotaliy mounted between said hoops above said seat, spring means for yieldably retainingsaid stop bar within the periphery of said; hoops and a handle extending downj wardly from said stop bar, whereby upon movement of said handle by a person on saidseat said stop bar will a move outwardly of the periphery of said hoops and en-.

gage the surface supporting said device to stop rolling movement and upon release of said handle said stop bar'will be-returned inwardly of the periphery of'said.

hoops by said spring means. i

2. A rock and roll amusement device comprisingla pair of hoops, cross members securing said hoops together in. spaced parallel relation, seat supporting bars,

'1; disposedin spaced parallel relation in the same. plane.

stopbar 41to a position convenient-to the: occupant 32.

Asshown in Fig. 5, the occupant may grasp the handle 48 and move-the stop bar 41 outwardly against the action-of spring. 44 and in this position the end 47 ofthe stop bar 41 will contact the surface supporting the hoops 10 and 11 and prevent further rolling movement of the hoops in that direction. a 7

As will be seen from the above, there is provided an amusement device which the occupant may operate to ii? provide a rocking movement or by proper. manipulation, may cause the device to roll completely over in:the nature of a wheel and the rolling movements may be continued until such time as the occupant desires to stop the same which may be accomplished by moving the stop bar 41 outwardly as shown in Fig.5 which as explained above, will operate to stop the rolling movementof the device. Release of the handle 48 will;per-. 1

mit the stop bar 41 to automatically return within ,the periphery of the hoops 10 and 11 thereby permitting furtherrolling movement of the=device.

Itwill be obvious to those skilled-inthe art that various changes" may be made in the invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof andtherefore 7 the invention is-not limited by that which is. shown in the drawing and described in the specification, but only 7 as indicated in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A rock and roll amusement device comprising a pair of hoops, cross members securing said hoops together in spaced'parallel relation, seat supportingibars disposed in spaced fparallel relation in .thesame plane andsecured to said hoojps;in"oifset relation .to the center, a tubular'member slidably received on each bar, a'seat carried by said tubular members and having a backrest, means to releasably lock at least one of said tubular members-in adjusted position on said bars, arms pivotally mounted on said tubular members forwardly of-said and secured to said hoops in offsetrelation to, the center, a tubular member slidably received on each bar, a seat carried by said' tubular members and having a back: rest, means to releasably lock at least one of s'aidtubular members in adjusted positionlon said bars, arms pivot'ally mounted; on. said tubularwrnembersforwardly of said seatand extendin'g above. said seat, a safety bar secured betweenflsaid arms and movable toward and away from, said backrest means to adjustably.andreleasably hold said-safety bar in engagement with a person on said seat, spaced parallel posts extending upwardly from the forward portions of saidseat supporting bars and a hand engaging bar secured between said posts in a position convenient to a person on said seat, whereby a person on said seat may rock said device or cause the same to roll over andstop. means for preventing roll.

over of; said device comprising an arcuate stop bar pivotally mounted between said hoops above said seat, spring means for yieldably retaining said stop bar within the periphery of said hoops and a handle extending downwardly from said stop bar, whereby upon movement of said handle by. a person on said seat said stop. bar will move outwardly of the periphery of said hoops and engage the surface supporting said device to stop rolling movement and upon release of said handle said stop hoops by said spring means. I

3. A rock and roll amusement device. comprising a pair of hoops, cross members securing said hoops together in spaced parallel relation, seat supporting bars disposed in spaced parallel relatio n in the same plane and secured to said-hoops in oifset relation to the center, a tubular member slidably received on each bar, a seat carried by said tubular members and having a backrest, means to bar will-be returned inwardly of the periphery .of said releasably' lock at least one of saidtubular. members in seatand extending-above said seat, a safety bar secured between said arms and movable toward and away from said backrest, pivotally mounted retaining arms extending 'rearwardly from-said safety-baroneach side ofsaid backrest, a vertically disposed rearwardly extending tapered plate on therear side of said backrest at each end,u spaced notches in the rear edge of each plate, in- .turned ends onJsaid retaining arms selectively engageable adjusted. position on said bars, .a) safety bar pivotally mounted forwardly. of said seat and movable toward and away from said backrest, means to adjustablyand releasably hold saidsafety bar in engagement with a person .on said seat, spaced parallel posts extending upwardly from the forward portions of said seat supporting bars and a handengaging bar secured between said posts in a position convenient to a person .on said seat, whereby a person on said seat may rock said device or cause the same to roll over and stoplmeans for preventingroll over of said device comprising an arcuate stop barpivotally mounted between said hoops above said seat, spring means for .yieldably retaining said step bar within the periphery of'said hoops and a handle extending downwardly from said sto-pbar, whereby upon movement of said handlebyaperson on said seat said stop bar. will move outwardly of the periphery of said hoops and engage the surface supporting said device to stop rolling movement and upon release of said handle said stop bar will be returned inwardly of the periphery of said hoops by said spring means.

4. A rock and roll amusement device comprising a pair of hoops, cross members securing said hoops together in spaced parallel relation, seat supporting bars disposed in spaced parallel relation in the same plane and secured to said hoops in ofiset relation to the center, a tubular member slidably received on each bar, a seat carried by said tubular members and having a backrest, means to releasably lock at least one of said tubular members in adjusted position on said bars, a safety bar pivotally mounted forwardly of said seat and movable toward and away from said backrest and means to adjustably and releasably hold said safety bar in engagement with a person on said seat, whereby a person on said seat may rock said device or cause the same to roll over and stop means for preventing roll over of said device comprising an arcuate stop bar pivotally mounted between said hoops above said seat, spring means for yieldably retaining said stop bar within the periphery of said hoops and a handle extending downwardly from said stop bar, whereby upon movement of said handle by a person on said seat said stop bar will move outwardly of the periphery of said hoops and engage the surface supporting said device to stop rolling movement and upon release of said handle said stop bar will be returned inwardly of the periphery of said hoops by said spring means.

5. A rock and roll amusement device comprising a pair of hoops, cross members securing said hoops together in spaced parallel relation, seat supporting bars disposed in spaced parallel relation in the same plane and secured to said hoops in offset relation to the center, a tubular member slidably received on each bar, a seat carried by said tubular members and having a backrest, means to releasably lock at least one of said tubular members in adjusted position on said bars, a safety bar pivotally mounted forwardly of said seat and movable toward and away from said backrest and means to adjustably and releasably hold said safety bar in engagement with a person on said seat, whereby a person on said seat may rock said device or cause the same to roll over and stop means for preventing roll over of said device com-prising a stop bar pivotally mounted between said hoops of said seat and a handle extending downwardly from said stop bar, whereby upon movement of said handle by a person on said seat said stop bar will move outwardly of the periphery of said hoops and engage the surface supporting said device to stop rolling movement.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,230,642 Albano June 19, 1917 1,521,133 Tinker Dec. 30, 1924 1,911,572 Hulander et al. May 30, 1933 2,165,698 Eyerly July 11, 1939 2,475,289 MacGregor July 15, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS 513,829 France Nov. 6, 1920 755,799 France Sept. 11, 1933 

